Which regulatory body is primarily responsible for establishing noise control measures in the workplace?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the primary regulatory body responsible for establishing noise control measures in the workplace. OSHA's mission is to ensure safe and healthy working conditions by setting and enforcing standards, providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA is tasked with addressing workplace hazards, including exposure to excessive noise.

OSHA has specific regulations that define permissible noise exposure levels, such as the requirement for employers to implement a hearing conservation program when employees are exposed to noise levels at or above 85 decibels averaged over an 8-hour workday. This regulatory framework is essential for preventing hearing loss and ensuring the well-being of workers exposed to hazardous noise levels in various industries.

The other regulatory bodies mentioned have different primary focuses: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally addresses environmental issues including air and water quality but does not focus specifically on workplace noise; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deals primarily with aviation safety and regulation, including noise related to airport operations; and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) centers on public health and social services, without direct responsibility for workplace noise control.